Panto 2007/08

Review South Wales Eveing Post

KEVIN STILL SPARKLES AMONG SOAP STARS

Swansea Grand Theatre

IF this year's Grand panto feels more than a little different - and it does, oh yes it does - it is because a new company, UK Productions, has taken the helm.

The brand may have changed but one thing remains constant, namely, the ever-reliable Kevin Johns, who adds more than a dash of local flavour to a show which might otherwise seem just a little generic. As ever, he plays the dame - in this case, Sarah the Cook - and from the minute he comes on stage he does a terrific job of engaging with the audience.

Another local element comes in the form of Swansea-born Hayley Gallivan, whose role as Alice Fitzwarren gives her every opportunity to shine: those of us who remember her as an usherette at the Grand - and as a performer in productions from Gorseinon College - will not be surprised at her confidence and ability here.

Hannah Waterman fares well as the feisty, black-booted Dick Whittington, while soap stars Anne Charleston and Ray Meagher (pictured) both excel in their respective roles as Fairy Bowbells and King Rat.

Strong contributions, too, from veteran performer Barry Daniels as Alderman Fitzwarren and Adam Gaskin as Tommy the Cat.

Rik Gaynor, who stars here as a slick, amiable and very Northern Idle Jack, not only directs the show but is also responsible for writing some of the original songs and adapting the script, some elements of which could use some judicious trimming: the kind of innuendoes which were once a staple of panto have surely fallen out of favour in more recent years - and don't get me started on the flatulence gags, of which there were far too many on the opening night.

Watch out for a stunning underwater sequence in the second half, which involves Dick "swimming" behind a series of clever video projections, and some nicely choreographed dance numbers which feature young dancers from the Grand Theatre School of Dance.

Musical director Griff Harries does a fine job with the musical numbers, including Take That's Shine and even some snatches from Riverdance.


THE STAGE REVIEW

UK Productions are rightly renowned for the slickness and professionalism of their touring shows, and this - the first panto to be staged by the company at the Grand - is no exception.

There is a sense in which the slick approach tends to eclipse the warmth and the essential local flavour that Swansea audiences have come to expect in recent years, but this is more than compensated for by the performances from Kevin Johns as Sarah the Cook and Hayley Gallivan as Alice Fitzwarren, both of whom engage brilliantly with the home audience.

Seasoned trouper Barry Daniels fares particularly well as Alderman Fitzwarren, while Adam Gaskin does a super job as Tommy the Cat.

The big names for this one are Hannah Waterman - who cuts a fine figure in the title role - plus Ray Meagher as a highly effective and villainous King Rat, and Anne Charleson as the dotty but lovable Fairy Bowbells - but it is Rik Gaynor’s Idle Jack who dominates the proceedings with his breakneck delivery and lively, animated approach.

One suspects that the script has been doing the rounds for a while, and some segments would benefit from the odd tweak here and there - some of the references are a tad dated, and several of the gags hark back to the days when innuendo and flatulence jokes were an accepted part of the genre.

Musical director Griff Harries and young performers from the Grand Theatre Dance School complete the line-up for this spirited, if rather overly long, production, which should hopefully get the box office tills ringing well into 2008.

Aladdin   

 

The ever-reliable Kevin Johns is nothing short of perfect as the archetypal panto dame, Widow Twankey - a role which gives him every opportunity to play to his strengths and to have fun

          

South Wales Evening Post

 

 

Toshack or Me  (January Production)

Kevin Johns scores heavily in an amusing subplot as a footie-crazed 
vicar called Joe, whose clash with the Bishop (George Andrews)
provides some of the play's most diverting moments.

Evening Post

 
 

 Toshack or Me  (January Production)

 

The nail-biting head-to-head was the climax of the play, which gave us a mirthsome performance by Kevin Johns and the rest of the cast.

The scene-stealing comic made his Fluellen debut as a Swans-loving vicar who entreats the Lord for victory at the Vetch and who harries and hurries his congregation through services so he can catch the kick-off.

He gets in a bit of bother with the Bish and is hauled up before the ecclesiastical authorities to explain himself - leading to some great physical comedy and a string of dodgy but charming football jokes.

Evening Post

 

  Fresh from his Panto run, Kevin Johns took the part of the Vicar, who prays for his team to win and is filled with the wrong kind of spirit that often lands him in trouble. With his usual apt comic timing, Kevin Johns proved excellent entertainment, whipping the crowd up just as he’s done so for years at Swans games.

Johns and Miles were the main instigators of visual comedy – one of the play’s strongest points, leaving the audience in stitches.

Theatre Wales

 

Amazing Grace

 

 Kevin Johns almost stole the show - is there nothing that man cannot turn his hand to. (I must admit I was half expecting him to don his Widow Twankey costume)? Kevin produced an extremely credible performance as miners' leader Will Hay. 

                                                                                                          Llanelli Star

  

Kevin Johns was clearly having a whale of a time as Miner’s Leader Will Hay  

                                                                                                                  Evening Post

 

 One of the highlights of the show was Kevin Johns and Raise the Flag.
 

   North Wales Weekly News

 

 The other singing miners are led by Kevin Johns, happily moonlighting from his day-job, presenting the Breakfast Show for Swansea Sound, he gives an authoritative performance as Will Hay, another who, at the beginning, is doubtful about the force of Evans conviction.

Theatre Wales